Whirlwind year

Reds midfielder Adam Lallana is revelling in a year of magic moments - for club and country, writes our man David Maddock.

Since making his England debut against Chile last year, Lallana has had the little matter of a World Cup in Brazil, the spiritual home of the game, a £25million move to Anfield, two Champions League games against Real Madrid and marriage to partner Emily - never mind serious injury before he even kicked a ball for Liverpool, and a difficult start to life at his new club.

He said: "A lot of unbelievable things have happened and it will take some going to beat it next year,” he admitted with another grin.

“It’s been a whirlwind. I haven’t taken a honeymoon yet. We had a week away in the summer, but that wasn’t classed as the honeymoon..!

Carragher told talkSPORT: "You can't just expect Sturridge to come in and fire on all cylinders.

"He has been out for while so you don’t want to put too much pressure on him, but it looks like it is down to him because there is not much else there at the moment.

“Hopefully, when this international break is out the way, we will start seeing the real Liverpool. It will be a different Liverpool to last season, for obvious reasons - Luis Suarez going and the new players coming in – but we have to start picking it up because before you know it Southampton might even be too far ahead, never mind the other top teams.”

(Image: Laurence Griffiths)

No chance of title

Meanwhile, Reds legend Ray Houghton has had his say on Sturridge and insists he can inspire the club to overcome their poor start.

"There will be many twists and turns before the end of the season, and Liverpool can be thankful that Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United all have their own problems, with only Chelsea showing any consistency," he told Goal.com.

"The title might already be beyond Liverpool, but the objective is to be in the top four and progression in the Champions League, and the return of Sturridge will give them hope of achieving that.”